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Troy
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 201
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 11:29 pm: | 
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I'd be very surprised if this does NOT happen. Random House sited a number of reasons including the fact that B&N, who also publishes books are selling books online as well.
Random House also says, essentially, they can use the adidtional revenue stream waiting for the next bestseller is no longer a viable business model
Obviously, Random House can (and they will, it would be a mistake if they did not) sell their titles cheaper than anyone else.
And you thought independent bookstores were struggling now...
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Soul_sister
Newbie Poster
Username: Soul_sister
Post Number: 19
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 11:27 am: |
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I must admit the web has "equaled" the field in some areas, but with this new found equality there is greater disparity of access and comprehension - I mean look at the google guys -- pardon my sidebar.
I love Random House and I suppose if the bottom line is generate ends then do what you gotta do -- if I owned the company. The downside is the intimacy of the neighborhood bookstore or small regional chains of which I have lost two in the last two years - my favorite Olssons at Metro Center and Sisterspace and books on U street -- For those who live in the area - yes they are polar opposites but hey - don't we all have issues - smile
On the real these changes let me know that the big picture of yesterday - getting folks out and reading has morphed into the bigger picture show me the money -- thanks a lot walmart <--- root of (most) all commerical evil
Peace |
Troy
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 206
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 10:21 pm: |
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Hu Soul_Sister can you elaborate on you point regarding;
"I must admit the web has "equaled" the field in some areas, but with this new found equality there is greater disparity of access and comprehension - I mean look at the google guys"
It is not clear to me what you meant.
Speaking of Google (and I know I'm we are way off topic); they are now scanning all of the books in Stanford's and other Libraries. If everything you need from a library is online what will be the point of a library?
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A_womon
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 1193
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 11:12 pm: |
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not only that, with online libraries, it would make it that much easier for "Big Brother" to monitor and track what you are reading~Don't think so? The patriot act gave the government the right to inquire about and get a listing (if they so choose) about what a targeted person has been reading. Why they want that information and what they intend to do with it remains to be seen... |
Soul_sister
Newbie Poster
Username: Soul_sister
Post Number: 20
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 03:44 pm: |
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Hey Troy
It took me a minute to find this link - thanks for the reply. I meant that from a business perspective -- anyone selling can sell and anyone buying can buy - most everything is available on the web -- commericially.
The issue of disparity - is that there will a dearth of people who come to "web savvyness" late in the game - so they lose out on the comprehension of understanding what the web replaces.
Sounds like circles - let me break it down this way -- one cartoon had a daughter assigned to writing an essay -- the mother comes in 3 hours later and the daughter is playing games
- your done - yup - how- just pulled some info from the 'Net -- after asking a few questions the mother realized the girl did not learn anything --so they worked together on the "new improved" essay and realized that reading and researching are important steps because you are teaching yourself to learn - same with the web - what is really being sold and bought??
Ultimate bottomline - side bar included - people are being replaced by machines, and human contact by dial tones - this is troublesome -- on many levels since I work in a library/special collections unit.
I believe that all change is not "good" change especially since people are being replaced and human contact minimized --
Hope that helps -
Peace |
Troy
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 210
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 09:42 pm: |
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Soul_sister -- got it, and I believe I'm feeling you. Even though Google will try to assimilate all knowledge, they can not recreate the experience of a library.
There is a sensory and social component that can not be replicated on a PC. When I was in college I used to go to the library to study. Not becuase I needed the books or because there were PC's (they had not been invented yet). I went to the library because I like being around other humans who were also studying -- even though I was not directly engaged with them. I feed off the energy. I guess that is why you see so many people hanging out in the Starbuks and B&N cafes.
Technology can compliment, even enhance, human engagement if used properly -- and I don't know what the "proper" use of technology is yet. I do know when someone needs a calculator to figure out the tip in a restaurant or if a husband spends mre time in front of the TV instead of talking to his wife, there is probably something arwy with the use of technology.
Their is so much going on in the technology space that a lot of people are going to be completely out of the loop. That is one of the reasons when I started my blog (http://aalbc.com/blog) the frist order of business was to relate my experience. Hopefully at least a few will learn from what I'm doing.
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Carey
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 384
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 - 09:37 am: |
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Hello SoulSister....I still love that name.
You've been running around this block for a few years now haven't you. We can always count on you to require us to put on our thinking caps. Anyway love I just wanted to wish you a happy Holidays. I hope you continue to bless us with your presence.
Carey |
Soul_sister
Newbie Poster
Username: Soul_sister
Post Number: 21
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 - 09:40 am: |
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Troy
Thanks for feeling me on this one - I believe as people in general and African people in particular our desire to interact is crucial for survival - I too was in college pre-computer days and now that I teach the majority of these kids cannot live or think without it - and they are not using it wisely -- what can I say
I will check out your blog - and I still stand back in awe and admire your empire aalbc.com - maybe next Harlem Bookfair I will meet you - I met Thumper 2/3 yrs ago - but you were working the crowd -- happy holidays -- peace
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